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Spotlights
Current Spotlight:
Baseball legends participate in The Conversations with… Speaker Series, sponsored by Regions Bank and Concordia's College of Business
The Conversations with… Speaker Series, sponsored by Regions Bank and Concordia’s College of Business is held monthly on Concordia’s main campus.
During the December segment, baseball legends Huston Street (far left) and Scott Linebrink (third from right) shared their insight on what makes them a success and how they stay grounded. They are seen here with Concordia baseball players Cade Radley, Ryan Ullman, Brent Schaekel and Robert Jones.
For more information on the College of Business, please visit: www.concordia.edu/COB and to learn more about the Speaker Series and the next scheduled event, please visit www.concordia.edu/speakerseries.
The Concordia MBA
Concordia will graduate its first MBA cohort on August 4 with 38 students from both the main campus and North Lamar Center.
During a time when Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs in the Austin area are seeing declining enrollment, Concordia University continues to see an increase in the number of students seeking to further their education and careers. Since its inception in 2010, the MBA program at Concordia has grown by 255%.
MBA students take their learning and professional experience and consult with local companies, including nonprofit organizations. Students will work on creating strategic marketing plans, business plans, social media campaigns, research and other related project management initiatives for their prospective clients.
MBA program director Elise Brazier attributes the growth to the type of program the University has developed.
"Our program appeals to people looking to make a difference in their community," said Brazier. "They like that we're doing something different. Our mission to develop Christian leaders is evident in this program."
MBA student, and graduate of the first cohort, Kevin Overton-Hadnot stated that “my future plans are to capitalize on the theme Concordia has instilled within me: Developing Christian Leaders.” Concordia University’s MBA program has helped shape many students plans as well as help them develop their own passions and a common understanding of the specific strategic steps for launching an organization.
Students in the MBA program were divided into cohorts, or learning teams as part of their educational experience. Each cohort ranged from government agencies to technological agencies to non-profit organizations.
“The learning teams sort of remind me of Proverbs 27:17, As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Individual students in each team brought many different background and educational experiences to the table; therefore, “each learning team served as accountability partners along the way” Overton-Hadnot said.
For more information on the Concordia MBA, please visit Concordia.edu/mba.
Spring 2012 Conversations with… Speaker Series connects the Concordia community with area business leaders
The Conversations With…Speaker Series sponsored by Regions Bank provides students and staff of Concordia University Texas and the greater Austin community an opportunity to learn from a variety of professionals who model Christian leadership. Representing the worlds of commerce, non-profits and education, participants will dialogue together on what it takes to lead and build an organization. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage the speakers in further discussion.
The Speaker Series is organized and arranged by Dean of Business, Don Christian.
This year, the Speaker Series “went to another level,” according to Dean Christian. Two sessions from this year included Sherron Watkins, former Vice President of Enron, and Steve Furbacher, former Chief Operating Officer of Dynegy Corporation, dialoguing on the importance of ethics are in leadership, no matter the size of the organization. During the next session, Dr. Tom Cedel, President of Concordia University Texas, discussed his experience with taking a small college on I-35 to a university that has an impact throughout the region and state.
The series generated a certain excitement not only for students and faculty on campus, but for the community of Austin as well. The Speaker Series gives students a chance to learn about vocation and gives faculty a chance to learn about leadership in many different situations. The students have a chance to talk to the speakers on a personal level. The caliber of the speakers rose this year and will continue to rise in the future.
The speakers for the fall Series are still being finalized but Christian says he believes students and faculty will have much to look forward to. Next year's theme is “vocation” which will elaborate on the idea that every calling is different for each individual.
“The Speaker Series is one of the best aspects of my job,” said Christian.
There will be much to look forward to fall 2012. Speaker Series events take place the first Thursday of the month from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the University’s auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Visitors are welcome to join the CTX community at 11:00 a.m. for a chapel service preceding the Speaker Series event.
Conversation with… Speaker Series engages students with local business leaders
John Garrett, CEO and Founder of the Community Impact newspapers and Arnold Garcia, editorial page editor for the Austin American-Statesman were featured guests at the December 1 Conversations with… Speaker Series sponsored by Regions Bank. These two media professionals dialogued about how the media impacts our lives and shapes communities. The Speaker Series is held monthly and focuses on a variety of topics in business. The event is free to the community. For a complete schedule of events or to view videos of past events, please visit www.concordia.edu/speakerseries.
Storm Chasers
Leadership and business students launched a bike-sharing program, providing free use of bicycles for students, staff and faculty to get around campus quickly. The program, called 'Storm Chasers,' in reference to the university mascot, the Tornados, launched on November 11 with 15 bikes. Bikes were obtained through donations and painted purple, white and black. Campus Police are partnering with the program to oversee the security of bicycles. Donations are still needed to expand and support this program. If you have a gently used bicycle or cash to donate to the program, please contact student program director Adam Case at adam.case@ctx.edu or 512.653.4812.
Concordia University Texas' 2011 Thrivent Scholars
Today’s world is in need of a new type of leader. For those who will take the lead in solving the problems of society, it is paramount that they receive training that is relevant to who they are and the type of environment in which they will do business. Leadership training is often done in a vacuum, where one hears about what leaders should do and how leaders should act. But it is seldom done in a real-world setting with real-life experiences.
The College of Business at Concordia University Texas and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans believe that leadership training can and should be different. By partnering together, real world experiences can be learned alongside classroom theory. By having students learn from top-notch business people and then letting them practice learned skills in a complex and fast-paced culture, an environment can be provided where leaders are built to face the challenges of the future. This is what the Thrivent Scholar’s Program at Concordia University Texas can provide.
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a Fortune 500 financial services firm, has teamed up with Concordia’s College of Business to offer the first Thrivent Scholar’s Program. This program takes eight students and helps them learn on-the-job-skills while also preparing them for leadership in today’s society. This year’s group will study the topic of Leadership, hearing from distinguished speakers and reading a variety of material on the subject. Participants will also be considered for internships with Thrivent and be eligible to attend leadership conferences.
Congratulations to the 2011 Thrivent Scholars:
Front Row: Brittany Clanton, Leo Vivas, Michelle Hill and Malori Carley
Back Row: Don Christian, (Dean of the College of Business) Jonathan Brown,
Kalynn White, Jose Elizondo, Adam Case and Chad Thompson (Thrivent)
Conversation with… Speaker Series engages students with local business leaders
Sponsored by Regions Bank, this monthly event provides students and staff of Concordia University Texas and the greater Austin community an opportunity to learn from a variety of professionals who model Christian leadership. Representing the worlds of commerce, non-profits and education, participants will dialogue together on what it takes to lead and build an organization. Attendees have the opportunity to ask questions and engage the speakers in further discussion.
The October event addressed the barriers women face in leadership roles as well as the unique opportunities women bring to leadership positions. Pictured above are: Business students Michelle Hille and Desiree Avila, Sylvia Acevedo, CEO and Founder of CommuniCard LLC, Michelle Krejci, Executive Director for the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders Foundation, student Julia Bellquist, MBA student Amanda Keeter.
You can also view upcoming event details and download videos from past events here.
Pictured above left to right are Dr. Lynette Gillis, Tate Noster, Pamela Graham, Katherine Bianco, Brisa Carrillo, Lya Morfitt, Jennifer Riggs, Chad Barrett, Scott Johnson
Students Win FIRST PLACE in Regional Competition!
This fall the College of Business sent a group of Business Administration students to Dallas to compete in the Regional IACBE Case Study Competition. (International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education) Members of the team were Tate Noster, Pamela Graham, Brisa Carrillo and Lya Morfitt. They took FIRST PLACE! 
Their coach (and teacher) Dr. Lynette Gillis commented that she would put them up against any school because of the fantastic job they did. These students were accompanied by fellow classmates, Jennifer Riggs, Chad Barrett, Katherine Bianco, and Scott Johnson, enrolled in Strategic Management
This award is the result of consistent high expectations, engaging classroom discussion and presentations that are part of Concordia’s Business Administration program. Credit for this award is also shared with the COB faculty who continually demonstrate their willingness to work with students one-on-one as needed, encourage them to go beyond what they believe they can do, making certain they are well-equipped to excel in the business world.
Business program accreditation by the IACBE assures the high quality of Concordia University Texas business programs. IACBE Accreditation requires evidence that a school’s programs are meeting high standards and producing measurable, high-quality results. We are very proud of the results demonstrated by this group of students!
Concordia Thrivent Scholars Attend Catalyst Conference
The College of Business at Concordia University Texas and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans believe that leadership training can and should be different. By partnering together, to offer Concordia’s Thrivent Scholar’s Program, real world experiences can be learned alongside classroom theory. For eight Concordia students, one of these experiences was the Catalyst Conference held in Atlanta, Oct 6-8.
These students, along with Chad Thompson of Thrivent and Don Christian, Dean of the College of Business, joined over 10,000 young leaders gathered to focus on a variety of topics specific to Next Generation Leaders, including organizational leadership, personal leadership, integrity, character, relationships, and teamwork. Catalyst has grown in influence and reach, now offering two annual events, multiple resources, a dedicated online magazine, online community, the Filter content program, a bi-weekly podcast, and many other tools for young leaders. Catalyst has only just begun to go deeper with taking next generation leaders beyond a conference experience and into a relationship that provides ongoing support for growth and continued learning.
Catalyst is a perfect match for Concordia’s Thrivent Scholar’s Program which takes students and helps them learn from top-notch business people and then lets them practice learned skills in a complex and fast-paced culture. In this way an environment can be provided where leaders are built to face the challenges of the future, while also preparing them for leadership in today’s society.
[Student Scholars pictured above are: Front Row: Dana Casas, Tasha Jones, Hilary Wagner, Jason Wallinsford, Sommer Chaka, Steven Headley. Back Row: Chad Thompson (Thrivent Rep), Tate Noster, Lance Thompson, Don Christian (Dean, College of Business)]
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